England travel guide

Spend Time Exploring London

I’m completely in love with my home city. Of course, everyone knows about all the famous tourist trappings  but for me, London’s authentic charm lies under the surface. 

From the rich greenery of Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park and Victoria Park to the oddball appeal of the Last Tuesday Society & Absinthe Parlour and The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, it’s a trove of quirky spots. That’s all before you mention the stellar restaurants too. 

Read Next: The Best Things to do in London 

Hang Out on the Beaches in Cornwall

Cornwall is one of England’s true gems. The peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean in the island’s southwest corner has incredible beaches to explore. 

St Ives is lucky enough to have two stunning golden sandy extravaganzas, while Newquay is a haven for surfers. Other gems are Porthpean Beach in St Austell, Polzeath Beach, Praa Sands in Breage and East Looe Beach.

Hike in the Lake District

Full of outstanding rugged hiking trails and some of the most incredible lakes anywhere in Europe, wandering in the Lake District is a restorative joy. 

The landscape inspired some of England’s most romantic writers, such as Wordsworth and Ruskin and once you begin to hike around the region’s 14 lakes of England’s largest National Park, it’s easy to see why.

Read Next: Walking in the Lake District 

See the University Cities of Oxford and Cambridge

Not only are Oxford and Cambridge two of the world’s most learned seats of learning, but both are magnificent cities in their own right. 

Take a punt down the River Cam in Cambridge while exploring the fabulous King’s College Chapel. 

Meanwhile, in Oxford, explore the city that spawned His Dark Materials and head to the Bodleian Library to uncover Oxford’s deep links with some of the English language’s finest literary minds.

Pootle Around the Cotswolds

Grab yourself a hired car and spend some time touring the quintessentially English area of the Cotswolds. 

Head to Bourton-on-the-Water and explore the stunning river and five stone bridges that span it. Afterwards, take in the more than 18,000 trees of Westonbirt National Arboretum. 

Other highlights include wandering the covered palisades of Lacock Abbey, a famous film set for Hogwarts in ‘Harry Potter’ and much more besides.

Read Next: These Are The Best Things to do in the Cotswolds 

Spend a Day in Bath

Bath is one of my favourite day trips, only an hour and a half by train from London. Full of stunning sandstone buildings, indulgent natural spas, and origins dating back to the Roman age, Bath is full of history, charm, and neoclassical architectural delights. 

The Roman Baths date back to 70AD and a dip in the plunge pools is one of the most relaxing, therapeutic things you will ever experience

Read Next: Thinking of Heading to Bath? Here’s What You Shouldn’t Miss

Explore Bronte Country

With the depth of England’s love affair with literature, you’re never far from the inspiration for some famous tale or other. 

The Yorkshire Moors are synonymous with the Bronte sisters and many of their fictional creations. 

Ponden Hall near Haworth is the inspiration for Thrushcross Grange in Wuthering Heights, while just over the Lancashire border is Wycoller, believed to be the location of Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre. 

The wild and windy moors are also brilliant hiking locations full of stunning vistas across the rolling hills.

Go Boating on the Norfolk Broads

The Norfolk Broads consist of more than 125 miles of lock-free waterways to explore by boat or on foot. 

From traditional English narrow boats to slightly larger pleasure boats, the Broads are awash with charming towns and villages to explore, such as Wroxham, Acle and Great Yarmouth.

Beautiful England

5 days

Oxford >> Stratford >> The Cotswolds >> Bath

This five-day tour takes some of England’s most beautiful, tranquil sites and cities. Visit Oxford, Churchill’s birthplace at Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle and Shakespeare’s Stratford before moving on to the Cotswolds and ending at Bath.

English Pubs, Culture and Nature

1 week

York >> Ambleside >> Liverpool

Taste the local brews and sample the centuries-old history of York before heading into the Yorkshire Dales on your way to Ambleside in the Lake District. End up in Liverpool, where you can follow in the footsteps of The Beatles and revel in the city’s unique cultural appeal.

Walk the Jurassic Coast

8 days

Lyme Regis >> West Bay >> Abbotsbury >> Osmington Mills >> West Lulworth

Believe it or not, dinosaurs used to roam English shores and evidence of their existence continues to be discovered to this day on the Jurassic Coast.

Spanning the South Devon and Dorset coastline, this walk from Lyme Regis includes prehistoric rock formations and Chesil Beach, where Barnes Wallis tested his famous bouncing bomb during WWII.

Northeast England

9 days

Newcastle >> Hexham >> Durham >> Alnwick >> Bamburgh

This exploration of Northeast England takes in the historic Alnwick Castle, another film location for ‘Harry Potter,’ the stunning rugged coastline of the Farne Islands, historic castles at Tynemouth, Lindisfarne and Bamburgh and life in Roman England along Hadrian’s Wall.

Forest of Dean

Dating back to before the Norman conquest of 1066, the Forest of Dean is a stunning region of natural woodland in Western Gloucestershire. 

Highlights include the Darkhill Ironworks, which contains the Steelworks that helped build the Titanic, Cannop Ponds, Soudley Ponds, and Symonds Yat Rock, which offers unmatched views over the River Wye.

Villages of the Weald in Sussex

Explore the beautiful villages in the Weald of Sussex, between the English Channel and London. The Domesday Book mentions the Weald as England’s most densely populated area of trees. 

Visit the stunning moated castle at Herstmonceux, the working chalk pit museum at Amberley, and the village of East Hoathly, which includes a bonfire night torch-lit procession through the streets.

Walk the Thames Path from Source to Sea

This is quite the challenge, but one that many (including me!) like to take on, walking the Thames Path from its source in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier in Woolwich, East London. 

This 184-mile walk takes in stunning little towns throughout rural England, the beautiful surroundings of Hampton Court, Richmond-upon-Thames and London’s famous riverside sights and sounds.

Tyneham Ghost Town

Set deep in Dorset, Tyneham was a village inhabited from the Iron Age through to 1943, when the British Government requisitioned it to act as a firing range ahead of the invasion of Europe in 1944. 

The village was evacuated, and its inhabitants never returned. The town has remained largely untouched since 1943 and is an eerie reminder of when time stopped in this beautiful rural setting.

Dishes to try

Fish and Chips – No visit to England is complete without proper fish and chips. Legend has it you will find the best on the North Yorkshire coast.

Cornish Pasty – This savoury delicacy has travelled across the country from Cornwall. This meat and potato wrapped in short-crust pastry is best served piping hot.

Roast Dinner – A Sunday favourite across the country, tender roasted meat of your choice served with fresh vegetables, crispy roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, drowned in gravy. Yum!

Eton Mess – First served at the exclusive Eton School in Berkshire, this dessert is made with meringue, fresh berries, and cream. 

Drinks to try

A Pint – Likewise, no trip to a proper English pub is complete without sampling a good old English hand-pulled pint.

The cost of living in England is relatively high, especially in London, so you’ll need to budget around £100 – 150 ($125 – 185) per day on a mid-range basis and between £200 – 300 ($250 – 370) for a more luxury experience.

Average Daily Costs 

• Hotel 
  • Mid-Range £70 – 100 ($87 – 125)
  • Luxury £150 – 200 (£185 – 250)
• Food – £20 – 40 ($25 – 50)
• Public Transport – £10 – 20 ($12.50 – 25)
• Attractions – £10 – 30 ($12.50 – 35)
• Tours – £10 – 50 ($12.50 – 65)

Safety

Travelling through England is generally safe. Beware of pickpockets in large towns and cities who are known to prey on tourists, so keep your valuables safely secured out of sight. 

Avoid political demonstrations or large gatherings, as they can sometimes get out of hand.

Health

You are not at risk from tropical disease in England and don’t need any specific jabs before entering the country. You can get some nasty insect bites during high summer, so that some bug spray can be helpful.

Tap water is generally okay to drink without problems. If water isn’t safe to drink, there are usually signs warning you.

Tipping

Tipping restaurant staff, hotel porters, and taxi drivers in England is customary. Around 10-15% is usual, although some restaurants and cafes will add a discretionary service charge to the bill.

Tips for travelling

1. If you’re travelling around London by public transport, get an Oyster Card or pay by contactless card. To get around the city, you can use these on all Underground, Overground, bus, and river taxi services.
2. If you’re travelling on the Underground, take note of the etiquette. Always let people off the trains before boarding yourself if you want to avoid audible tuts in your direction.
3. Be prepared for rain! Although it doesn’t rain quite as much as legend would have you believe, it’s always worth taking a brolly with you on your travels.
4. Unlike much of the world, we drive on the left in England. 
5. Check visa requirements for entering England before you travel. Most people can stay six months visa-free for tourism purposes.

How to see the best for free

Several excellent guides to England are available online, allowing you to explore the country at your own pace and without shelling out for a guided tour. 

Some leading attractions, like many of London’s biggest and best museums, including the Natural History Museum, British Museum and Science Museum, offer free admission.

Packing

Want to know the essentials to pack for your trip to England? Here are the top five must-haves.

• England has incredible hiking trails, so a pair of waterproof hiking trainers is advisable.
• Likewise, having an easily wearable daypack to carry your hiking essentials is worthwhile.
• Continuing the hiking theme, walking at altitude can be chilly, even during an English summer. Take a hiking top with you to keep you warm if needed.
• And for total comfort, have a sports bra while hiking in warm weather.
• Pack a universal adaptor if you’re travelling from a country that doesn’t use the UK Type-G plug.

Travel insurance

No matter how well you plan, there’s always potential for things to go wrong wherever you find yourself. England is no different, so getting travel insurance before you travel is crucial. 

Thanks to their excellent coverage and competitive premiums, I usually use AXA Travel Insurance.

Suggested guidebooks

I recommend any of these excellent guidebooks to really dig under the surface of England’s many charms.

• Lonely Planet England
• Rough Guide to England
• Fodor’s Essential England

Interesting facts

• England fought the shortest war in history. At 9 a.m. on 27th August 1896, five ships of the Royal Navy opened fire on Zanzibar’s Royal Palace. Between 38 and 45 minutes later, the white flag of surrender was raised.
• If you’re in Gloucestershire in the spring, you can watch one of the world’s weirdest sports in action, Cheese Rolling. Trust me, it’s weird but wonderful!
• You’re reading this guide on the internet, invented by an English scientist. Tim Berners-Lee conceived the World Wide Web in 1989.
• Believe it or not, Champagne is an English invention. Thirty years before the French discovered fizzy wine, an English scientist had cracked the code for putting the sparkle into a glass of vino.

Time zone

England observes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) between October and March. Clocks spring forward an hour in March for British Summer Time (GMT +01:00) before falling back in October.

Electricity and adapters

The three-pronged Type G plug is standard in England. Ensure you have your universal adapters at the ready if coming from abroad with different plugs to keep all your devices fully charged.